Mexico backs Indian bid to join NSG

Mexico supports India's efforts to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Wednesday, in a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic push to end his country's isolation over its nuclear arms programme.

India's bid to join the NSG is due to be discussed at a plenary session of the 48-member group in Vienna today.

"Mexico recognizes India's interest in joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group," Pena Nieto said, with Modi at his side at the Mexican president's Los Pinos residence. "As a country we have a positive and constructive backing for this."

India is also poised to join the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) after talks this week between Modi and US President Barack Obama in Washington.

Both groups would give India greater access to research and technology, but China has so far blocked India's accession to the NSG.

New Delhi's bid for full membership, if granted, would tip the balance of power in South Asia against its arch-rival Pakistan, whose own application has been backed by China, despite questions over its proliferation record.

India made its formal bid for membership last month after winning a waiver in 2008 allowing it to trade in commercial nuclear technology. Earlier Modi also won support of Switzerland on the issue.

China is leading opposition to a push by the United States and other major powers for India to join the NSG, diplomats said yesterday as the group discussed India's membership bid.

Other countries opposing Indian membership of the group include New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria.

A decision on Indian membership is not expected before an NSG plenary meeting in Seoul on June 20, but diplomats said Washington had been pressuring hold-outs, and Thursday's closed-door meeting was a chance to see how strong opposition is.

China, however, showed no sign of backing down from its opposition to India joining unless Pakistan becomes a member. That would be unacceptable to many, given Pakistan's track record -- the father of its nuclear weapons programme sold nuclear secrets to countries including North Korea and Iran.